Fugitif is on course to reappear in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on November 18.
The Richard Hobson-trained eight-year-old improved markedly last season, beginning the campaign rated 131 and ending it with a mark of 153.
Having finished second at Cheltenham both on Trials Day and at the Festival in March, Hobson has no concerns over the course or distance, and is just hoping Fugitif gets his favoured soft ground.
“We’re all on course for the Paddy Power,” said Hobson. “We know he likes the course and distance and if he gets his ground he could be very dangerous.
“He wasn’t right at the end of the season when he ran at Aintree so we can safely put a line through that run, but prior to that he’d been very progressive.
“He’s 17:2hh so with another summer on his back you can only imagine how much he has strengthened up.
“He does need a cut in the ground, you saw last year at Chepstow when he won it was very soft that day and he loved it, he never came off the bridle.
“I think the middle distance at Cheltenham is right up his street myself, but I did put him in the King George because if he wins the Paddy Power it’s a flat three miles and on his pedigree who should get it. It’s only an early entry, though.”
Algiers will miss the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile due to a minor foot issue.
The Dubai World Cup runner-up was one of the leading fancies for his selected race, and was second favourite behind last year’s winner Cody’s Wish.
However, it emerged overnight that Algiers had been scratched and a post on trainers Simon and Ed Crisford’s Gainsborough Thoroughbreds social media account confirmed the news.
It read: “Unfortunately Algiers won’t be able to run in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. He is going to have to miss a few days training due to a minor foot issue. He will now be prepared for a winter in Dubai.”
The three-year-old Practical Move, another leading fancy for the race, died of a suspected heart attack on Tuesday when returning from exercise on the Santa Anita track.
David Menuisier can head into the winter dreaming of big-race glory in 2024 thanks to the recent exploits of some of his star two-year-olds.
By his own admission the Frenchman has endured a tough campaign, with winners hard to find throughout the height of the Flat season.
However, some of the younger members of Menuisier’s Coombelands string, such as Sunway and Devil’s Point, have come to the fore at the backend of the campaign as the handler finishes the 2023 turf season on a real high.
Menuisier said: “It’s great and we’ve had a bit of a tough time with the older horses, especially the three-year-olds throughout the season, so it’s nice that the two-year-olds have kind of saved the year for us and especially in such a fashion.
“We knew we had a nice bunch but it’s hard to predict, even six weeks ago, that they are as good as they actually are.”
After Sunway provided Menuisier with just his fourth Group One triumph when landing the Criterium International, the handler returned to his homeland to plunder more big-race glory just five days later when crack two-year-old fillies War Chimes and Tamfana won the Prix Isonomy and Prix Miesque respectively.
A day later Devil’s Point capped a fine week for the trainer when finishing a brave second to Ancient Wisdom in Doncaster’s Futurity Stakes, a performance which thrilled Menuisier.
“In all honesty the French race worked out really well – the Thomas Bryon that he ran in as a prep,” explained Menuisier.
“That race wasn’t really run to suit and the ground was not quite as soft as it should be for him to show his true potential, so we felt we would find a bit more improvement in the Futurity and he did.
“It was very satisfactory and he was just beaten by a better horse on the day. There is not much more you can say, it was absolutely fantastic.”
Menuisier is yet to taste Classic success but he appears to have plenty of ammunition tucked away at his West Sussex base for 2024 and can now savour the prospect of aiming his high-class youngsters at some of racing’s biggest races when they return to the track next season.
“We’ve had a tough season so I think it is important until Christmas to stay on a bit of a cloud and then from January onwards we can start working out plans for all of them,” he said.
“It is hard to tell how much more improvement they are going to find but War Chimes looks like a lovely middle-distance stayer and Tamfana could be literally anything. She has won over seven furlongs and she won her maiden over a mile. She’s got speed and should stay a bit and is very exciting.
“Obviously the two colts, Sunway and Devil’s Point, are ones for the Classics as well and we have some other horses that we won with and put away like Goodwood Odyssey and Ashariba and a few more that have run only once or not at all that will come to hand next season.
“It is exciting and we don’t want to get too excited too soon, but it is time to reflect and enjoy now and hopefully things go according to plan and we can get excited again next spring. I’m looking forward to it.”
Cavalier Football Club will contest the 2023 Concacaf Caribbean Cup final after they held Harbour View to a goalless stalemate in their second leg semi-final clash at Sabina Park on Tuesday.
With the result, Cavalier win the series 5-0 on aggregate to advance to the final where they will face either Suriname's Robinhood or Dominican Republic's Moca FC. They have also officially qualified for the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup.
Harbour View will look to claim a 2024 Champions Cup berth in the third-place Match.
Needing five unanswered goals to pull level in the series, Harbour View came out the much more aggressive and Jahshaun Anglin almost steered one in at the far post in the 14th, but his effort was kept out by Vino Barclett in goal for Cavalier.
Cavalier started to find space going forward and tournament top scorer Shaniel Thomas almost found his ninth goal in the 39th. However, he was denied by Harbour View's custodian Anthony Bennett.
Harbour View kept their foot on the gas in search of a goal and Shaquiel Bradford looked set to pull a goal back, but missed the target from inside the area after the preceding shot was blocked.
A defensive mishap by Harbour View in the 79th, almost gifted Jalmaro Calvin the breakthrough, but Ajeanie Talbott was on hand to avert the danger.
It would prove to be the final chance of the match, but it mattered less to Cavalier, who did much if the hardwork in the opening leg.
Cecil Aldana scored a brace to power Cuba to a 3-0 victory over Guadeloupe in their Concacaf Women's Gold Cup Qualifying Group B, League C fixture at the Estadio Antonio Maceo in Santiago on Tuesday.
With this, their third win in as many games, Cuba controls the group on maximum nine points, while Guadeloupe is still without a point after three matches.
Cuba enjoyed another strong start and quickly broke the deadlock in the ninth minute through Aldana, who headed in a loose ball that bounced to her liking.
But just like in their previous meeting on Friday, the scoreline remained tight thanks to the exceptional goalkeeping of Guadeloupe’s Anais Hatchi, who made a plethora of stellar saves.
Yet there was nothing Hatchi could do to prevent Eunises Nunez from doubling Cuba's advantage in the 37th with a left-footed finish after Guadeloupe's defence failed to clear their lines.
Aldana then grabbed her second with a right-footed shot in first half stoppage time to put Cuba 3-0 up at the break.
A handball in the Guadeloupe area handed Cuba a 69th-minute penalty, but Hatchi again made a terrific save, as she denied her opposite number Alianne Matamoro.
From there, Cuba tried but failed to add to their tally, as Guadeloupe were defiant not to lose by a wider margin.
Bermuda and the Dominican Republic continued their winning form in the race for top honours in Group C of League B, as the curtains came down on the Concacaf Women's Gold Cup qualifiers October fixtures on Tuesday.
Bermuda consolidated their lead atop the group, as they moved to 10 points, still one ahead of Dominican Republic, which sets a course for a potential group-decider on the final matchday. That means Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadines are currently out of contention for a playoff spot.
Bermuda vs. Barbados
Bermuda won 4-2 against Barbados at the National Sports Center in Devonshire Parish.
Jaden Masters opened the scoring for Bermuda in the sixth minute when she dispossessed a defender and struck a left-footed shot past Kamilla Burke.
Victoria Davis added a second in the 10th with a delightfully taken freekick from a distance that gave Burke no chance at a save.
Two-minute later, Aaliyah Nolan then added a third for the hosts as she dismissed her marker and drove home a right-footed shot from deep inside the box.
Ashanee Thompson reduced the deficit for Barbados in the 34th. She picked up a short corner and later found time and space outside the box to put a curve ball to the far post.
Thompson grabbed a second for the visitors in the 45+5 after a throw-in quickly developed into danger inside the penalty area and a quick hit from the forward beat Zakhari Turner, in goal for Bermuda, all ends up.
A second yellow card for Khyla Brangman in the 47th resulted in Bermuda going down to 10 players early in the second half.
But with their one-goal advantage, Bermuda kept Barbados at bay and Nolan added another for assurance in the 74th. She connected with a Masters pass that went behind the defence and tucked away shot to complete her brace.
Rianna Cyrus almost pulled Barbados back within reach with a 79th-minute shot that just went over the crossbar.
Substitutes Felicia Jarvis and Makela Alleyne combined in the 90+3 to try to force a dramatic finish, but Bermuda's Turner was there for the stop on a night in which she had five saves.
Dominican Republic vs. St Vincent and the Grenadines
The Dominican Republic was victorious, 4-0, over St Vincent and the Grenadines at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo.
Jazmin Jackson put the home side in the lead at the second minute with a right-footed shot in front of goal. Nadia Colon, who advanced the play through the left flank, provided the assist.
Lucia Marte extended the lead in the 18th, as she headed in a perfectly weighted corner kick from Winibian Peraltainside.
Jaylen Vallecillo added a third in the 40ith a header of her own inside the box.
Gabriella Cuevas added her name to the scoresheet from a rebound on the hour mark, after Renata Cuevas headed a corner kick on frame.
Dominican Republic earned a penalty kick, but Vanessa Kara’s attempt in the 64th was stopped by Altica Benn in goal for St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Benn again came up big in the 69th as Cuevas had another hit towards goal.
Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago played out a goalless stalemate to close out the October window in Group A of League A in the Concacaf Women's Gold Cup qualifiers on a positive note at the Estadio Juan Roman Loubriel in Bayamon on Tuesday.
With the result, Puerto Rico inched up to four points in second position on the three-team table, while Trinidad and Tobago collected their first point after three matches.
Puerto Rico controlled much of the first half and far outpaced Trinidad and Tobago in terms of shots by 6-1 but visiting goalkeeper Simone Eligon proved equal to the task.
The host maintained their tempo in the second half and Juelle Love came within an inch of breaking the deadlock with a shot at the near post that hit the crossbar.
But Trinidad and Tobago later found their footing and created a few chances of their own. As they forced Puerto Rico into a defensive posture, Asha James had a good crack at goal but her 62nd minute effort went just wide.
Puerto Rico found room on the counter, though, and Susana Roberts should have put them ahead in the 78th when she rounded Eligon but could not get her final effort on frame from a narrow angle.
Trinidad and Tobago will host Mexio in their final group fixture in late November and will require a win if they are to have a chance of progressing as the group's runners-up.
Simone Biles defied a kidney stone to become the first female gymnast to win four all-around world titles, on this day in 2018.
Such was the American’s dominance of her sport, she could afford a series of uncharacteristic mistakes in Doha without feeling unduly threatened by her rivals, with Japan’s Mai Murakami taking silver more than one and a half points behind.
Victory gave Biles her 12th world gold medal and her second of the championships. She went on to collect six in total – four golds, one silver and one bronze.
However, after claiming the all-around title, she insisted: “I’m definitely more upset with myself than happy. It’s not who I am go out and bomb a meet like that.
“Even though I still won, I wish it had been something different. It kind of sucks that I did so bad and still won. You have to earn it and I don’t think I earned it tonight.”
Biles’ success was all the more remarkable given her admission to hospital the night before the qualifying round, but she refused to use her continuing discomfort as any kind of excuse.
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“If it had been a challenge for me, I wouldn’t have competed at all, rather than blame it on the kidney stone,” Biles added.
“I think finals will definitely cheer me up because I get to redeem myself and show people who I really am.”
Biles took a two-year break from competition following the Tokyo Olympics, during which time she announced she would be working on her mental health and also gave evidence to Congress over the abuse she suffered at the hands of disgraced doctor Larry Nassar.
A maiden List A hundred from Zachary McCaskie propelled the Barbados Pride to a 48-run win over the Combined Campuses and Colleges in their fifth round CG United Super50 Cup tussle at the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground in St. Augustine on Tuesday.
McCaskie, playing his first game of the season, hit a 116-ball 131 including 13 fours and four sixes to help Barbados post 314-7 from their 50 overs after winning the toss.
West Indies batsman Shamarh Brooks also hit a well-compiled 65 off 67 balls including four fours and two sixes in support.
West Indies ODI skipper Shai Hope was also in a destructive mood, hitting 33 off just 19 balls including two fours and two sixes.
Left-arm seamer Jediah Blades and leg-spinner Abhijai Mansingh each took a pair of wickets for the CCC.
The CCC chase, after a valiant effort, ended in the 46th over with them being bowled out for 266.
Captain Shane Dowrich, who hit a brilliant unbeaten 102* to lead them to victory against the Windwards in round three, top scored with 86 off 84 balls including five fours and three sixes.
18-year-old West Indies Under-19 batsman Jordan Johnson also showed excellent form, following up 41 in round four against the Jamaica Scorpions with a 45-ball 50 including two fours and two sixes on Tuesday, his maiden List A fifty.
Demario Richards, who also hit a half-century against the Scorpions, made 41.
Off-spinner Roston Chase took 3-56from his 10 overs while Dominic Drakes and Roshon Primus picked up two wickets, each, in support for the Pride who now have three wins, one loss and one no result.
Justin Greaves hit his maiden List A century to help the Leeward Islands Hurricanes secure a massive 114-run victory over the Windward Islands Volcanoes in their fifth round CG United Super50 Cup fixture at the Queen’s Park Oval on Tuesday.
The Leewards posted 293 all out from their 50 overs after winning the toss.
Greaves, who also hit 58 in their last game against the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, led the way with a masterful 121 off 126 balls including 10 fours and a six while Jahmar Hamilton provided good support with an even 50 off 72 balls, the eighth of his List A career.
Captain Alzarri Joseph and all rounder Terance Ward provided cameos of 24 and 22, respectively.
Pacer Shermon Lewis picked up three wickets in his seven overs, but was expensive, conceding 68.
Leg-spinner Darel Cyrus took 2-52 from his full 10 overs while Shamar Springer took 2-45 from six.
Springer then completed a fine all-round performance with a top score of 58 but it wasn’t enough as the Windwards slumped to another defeat, being bowled out for just 179 in 42.3 overs.
Alick Athanaze got a start once again with 39 and Kavem Hodge hit 38 against Hayden Walsh Jr’s 4-40 from 6.3 overs for the Hurricanes.
Left-arm spinner Daniel Doram provided good support for Walsh Jr with 2-29 from his 10 overs.
Walsh Jr and Doram are now top two on the leading wicket-takers list after five rounds with 17 and 14 wickets, respectively.
The Leewards now have three wins and two losses this season while the Volcanoes have only one win from their five games.
Paul Nicholls has confirmed that Bravemansgame will be aimed at Saturday’s bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, rather than waiting for Haydock’s Betfair Chase on November 25.
The eight-year-old gave Nicholls his fifth success in the West Yorkshire feature 12 months ago at the start of a successful second season over fences.
He went on to claim King George glory at Kempton before finishing second to Galopin Des Champs in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Nicholls also has Aintree Grade One winner Pic D’Orhy among eight entries for the Charlie Hall, but the plan is to now keep him back for Ascot towards the end of November.
The Ditcheat handler posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: “After this evening discussing the weekend with Bryan Drew and Johhny de la Hay and with the prospect of soft ground and an uncertain forecast up to @haydockraces in 3 weeks we have decided to run Bravemansgame saturday @WetherbyRaces and leave Pic D’Orhy for @Ascot on 25th.”
Lucinda Russell’s Ahoy Senor disappointed as a hot favourite for last year’s renewal, trailing home last of five runners behind Bravemansgame, but is on course for a rematch.
The eight-year-old showed his true colours in the second half of the season – winning the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January before rounding off his campaign with a runner-up finish behind Shishkin in the Aintree Bowl.
Ahoy Senor is entered in both the Charlie Hall and the bet365 Hurdle this weekend, but Russell’s partner and assistant Peter Scudamore said: “I’m almost certain that Ahoy Senor will go for the chase. He seems OK, we’re happy enough with him.”
Dashel Drasher also holds a Charlie Hall engagement, but his trainer Jeremy Scott is leaning towards running over the smaller obstacles at this stage.
He said: “We’ve just been discussing it; are we better over fences or over hurdles? It’s an interesting question really.
“I think we’ll bide our time and see what everybody else is doing and try to work it out, but I think in principle the most likely race, I would imagine, would be the hurdle.”
Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced that Barbados Pride all-rounder, Raymon Reifer has been suspended from bowling his slower balls and cutters in all cricket matches until his action on these deliveries is cleared. Should Reifer use these deliveries in a match, CWI reserves the right to suspend him from bowling altogether.
Reifer, Barbados Pride’s left-arm seamer, was reported by the match officials during the CG United Super50 Cup match between Barbados Pride and Windward Volcanoes on 25 October at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. In accordance with the procedure for suspected illegal bowling actions, the match footage was sent to Loughborough University for an opinion report. The report has determined that an illegal action was used to bowl the cutters and slower balls.
The Barbados Pride are currently fourth in the table with 24 points after their four matches, having won two and lost one, with one no result due to rain. They are correctly playing their fifth match of the CG United Super 50 Cup against the Combined Campuses & Colleges, which can be watched live on the WindiesCricket YouTube channel.
The semifinals will be played on 8 and 9 November at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. The CG United Super50 Cup final will be played at 1pm on Saturday, 11 November at the same venue. These will be day/night matches and will be televised exclusively live on ESPN Caribbean with match highlights on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel.
Follow live CG United Super 50 Cup ball-by ball scores on the Windies Cricket live match centre: https://www.windiescricket.com/match-schedules/
Nicky Henderson has identified the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase as the primary objective for Shishkin, with the Betfair Chase at Haydock a potential port of call en-route to Kempton.
The former star two miler successfully stepped up to an extended three miles in the Aintree Bowl in the spring and looks set to be campaigned over staying trips this season.
Following a pleasing racecourse gallop at Windsor last week, Henderson feels the nine-year-old is right where he wants him ahead of a potential comeback at Haydock on November 25.
“The whole objective for Shishkin is one day after Christmas and that is the King George,” said the Seven Barrows handler.
“After that race, we will decide where we go from there. He has had a racecourse gallop and the plan is to go to the Betfair Chase first, then onto the King George. He was super in the racecourse gallop and I was thrilled with him. Nico (de Boinville) rode him and he was great.
“He is most definitely a stayer. We started last season at two miles, then we went up to two miles five furlongs at Ascot and he looked good.
“You would have to say we were a little bit disappointed at Cheltenham in the Ryanair Chase, but then we upped him to three miles one furlong at Aintree and that was a good, solid, staying jumping performance.
“His win at Aintree showed that he stays three miles, but now we have got to confirm that. The ground at Haydock does frighten you a little bit, but we have got to go there, as he is not entered in the Charlie Hall and you have either that or the Betfair Chase before the King George.”
Shishkin is one of 15 possible contenders for the Betfair Chase, with last year’s winner Protektorat and the 2021 victor and former Gold Cup hero A Plus Tard also in the mix.
Bravemansgame, Gerri Colombe and L’Homme Presse are other notable names among the hopefuls for the Merseyside feature.
A Plus Tard aside, all of the above are also on a list of 19 initial entries for the King George, along with the likes of Allaho, last season’s Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs and The Real Whacker.
John Gosden was pleased to be able to get Inspiral and Mostahdaf out on to the Santa Anita track on Tuesday.
Two of the best turf horses in Europe will represent Gosden and his son Thady in the Filly & Mare Turf and the 12-furlong Turf respectively.
Inspiral has won her last two outings in Group One company, while Mostahdaf has been rerouted after the ground turned testing at Ascot on Champions Day.
His victories in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and Juddmonte International were unquestionably two of the best displays of the season by any horse.
“The horses have been in a dark room with no natural light since they arrived and both Inspiral and Mostahdaf were very pleased to be out,” said Gosden.
“Mostahdaf fancied his pony and thought it was good fun, he will love being a stallion next year.
“He has a good turn of foot and is a good-looking son of Frankel.”
Mostahdaf will be reunited with Jim Crowley due to his retainer with owners Shadwell but Frankie Dettori stepped in for him at York while he was banned. Dettori will be on Inspiral, however.
The Italian recently announced his career will be extending much longer than first anticipated but Gosden is fully behind the switch in plans and raised the idea of the pair teaming up at the Dubai Carnival.
“Frankie learned a lot from the US jockeys in the 1980s when he was here for two or three winters. He was very keen and hungry to learn,” said Gosden.
“I think he’s doing it exactly right. He can ride here four days a week but he will ride for me again, for sure. In fact, I’m getting Lord North ready for Dubai, where he has won three Dubai Turfs. Why not a fourth?”
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